Long Chu continued, "Do you know what the Second Ring Army is called, Prince Zishan?"
Lu Yin looked at Long Chu.
"On the surface, the Second Ring Army belongs to the Thirteen Imperial Divisions, but in reality, they are a killing machine meant to monitor us. They are known as the true Defense Army, defending against us," Long Chu said angrily.
"What do you want me to do?" Lu Yin asked.
Long Chu lowered his voice, "Take back military power for the Zishan family and lead us, the Zishan King's Army. We are soldiers, not playthings for the nobility, nor are we enemies of the Empire."
Lu Yin smiled wryly, "Commander Long, you overestimate me. You are a smart man; you should understand my current situation. To put it nicely, I am the Zishan King. To put it bluntly, I am a pawn for His Majesty to repay an old debt. To him, giving me the title of Zishan King is already an explanation to the old Zishan faction. To regain power, that's difficult."
"Your Highness, how will you know if you don't try? We, the Third Ring Army, support you," Long Chu shouted.
Lu Yin pressed his hand down, "There's no rush for this matter. Do you have anything else, Commander Long?"
Long Chu exhaled and sat down, troubled. "There is one thing I hope Your Highness can help with."
"What is it?" Lu Yin asked, looking at him.
Long Chu said, "General Xiken Maldo, also from the old Zishan faction, has been arrested due to the Earth trial incident. I hope Your Highness can help save him. He must have been framed."
"Why are you so sure?" Lu Yin asked, frowning.
Long Chu said gravely, "His Majesty did not give General Maldo any chance to defend himself. He immediately sealed the information upon learning of Baruda's defection. Clearly, someone feared complications and spoke ill of him to His Majesty, eager to get rid of General Maldo. Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn't have so hastily condemned him. Please, Your Highness, save the General."
Lu Yin drummed his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
Long Chu stared at Lu Yin, his eyes bloodshot, clearly having not slept all night, showing his anxiety.
After a while, Lu Yin looked at Long Chu, "I understand. I will immediately seek an audience with His Majesty and do my best."
Long Chu rejoiced, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Lu Yin nodded and asked Xu San to escort the guest out.
Watching Long Chu's departing figure, Lu Yin's gaze turned cold. "This is the second time. Still daring to make a move, do you really think I'm that easy to deal with?" Yin had given him a note on the Yili, listing not only the old Zishan faction members but also those who had defected. This Long Chu was one of the traitors, a man of Xika.
Long Chu's purpose was simple: to force Lu Yin to save Xiken Maldo. Given Lu Yin's current capabilities, if he really intervened, the outcome would be disastrous. He wouldn't save Maldo but would give the impression to Undying Yushan that he was eager to consolidate the old Zishan faction, exposing his naivety and inviting ridicule. This would ruin his standing as the Zishan King in the Great Yu Empire. No one would support an overconfident and shortsighted leader.
But if he didn't help, he would offend the old Zishan faction.
Lu Yin didn't understand why his family wanted him to be the Zishan King, but this title was undoubtedly useful. The old Zishan members would surely be his future allies. Offending them would make future dealings difficult.
Handling this was a dilemma.
Xika's strategy was clever.
Narrowing his eyes, Lu Yin pondered for a moment, then left the Zishan King's mansion and headed to the imperial palace.
Soon, news spread across the imperial capital that the Zishan King was pleading for Xiken Maldo. Many ridiculed the news.
"Twenty-seven Corpse Kings escaped. This is the work of the New Human Alliance. His Majesty knows Xiken Maldo is innocent; otherwise, he wouldn't have returned. But a scapegoat is needed, or the Great Yu Empire will face pressure from the Inner Universe. The New Human Alliance is a major enemy of humanity, posing no less of a threat than the other star domains. His Majesty cannot bear this pressure. That Zishan King dares to intervene; he's courting death," Xika sneered in his luxurious estate.
Ras, smug, said, "He's causing trouble for His Majesty. If Xiken Maldo doesn't die, His Majesty will bear the pressure. This Lu Yin is blind to the situation. Does he really think the old Zishan faction respects him? The Zishan family has long been a relic."
Xika shook his head and laughed, "It's not that he's blind to the situation; he just doesn't understand. Zishan King? Who respects him? Even the Crown Prince only shows him face for the sake of appearances. He will soon learn the consequences of his arrogance." He looked at Ras, his face darkening, "I heard you lost a race to Wukai last night?"
Ras hesitated, then said reluctantly, "It won't happen again."
Xika snorted, "What did you promise him?"
Ras was troubled.
"Speak," Xika ordered.
Ras hesitated, "I asked you to intercede for Xiken Maldo in the court."
Xika slapped Ras, sending him back several meters. "Fool! How dare you make such a bet! The court is where national affairs are discussed. Each decision affects countless people in the empire. How dare you treat it so frivolously? How will I explain to His Majesty? Go kneel in the courtyard and don't get up for three days."
Ras covered his face, looking distressed, and ran off.
Xika rubbed his temples, feeling a headache.
At this moment, many ridiculed Lu Yin's ignorance, not just Xika.
In a pink room, the little girl Taoxiang stared at a screen full of snacks, almost drooling.
A knock sounded, followed by a pleasant voice, "Captain, there's news. The Zishan King Lu Yin is pleading for Xiken Maldo."
Taoxiang blinked, "Good man."
The person outside hesitated, "What did you say?"
Taoxiang said matter-of-factly, "I said he's a good man. It's obvious Xiken Maldo is innocent. No one else dares to plead for him, but he does. Good man. I was rude to him in court. I should apologize."
The person outside was speechless.
In the imperial palace, Undying Yushan stood with his eyes closed, having stood for two hours. No one dared disturb him.
After a while, Undying Yushan opened his eyes. "What is it?"
A newly arrived palace maid respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the Zishan King seeks an audience."
Undying Yushan said calmly, "Let him in."
Outside the palace, Lu Yin followed the maid inside. Bronson waited outside the palace.
As Lu Yin walked away, Crown Prince Doran Yushan and Second Prince Duke Yushan arrived together. Watching Lu Yin's back, Doran Yushan smiled, "Second Brother, why are you here?"
Duke Yushan lazily said, "To see Father. What about you?"
"I'm here for the same reason," Doran Yushan said.
Duke Yushan glanced inside the palace, "Then why don't you go in?"
"Why don't you?" Doran Yushan retorted.
Duke Yushan smirked, "Your smile makes me sick."
Doran Yushan sighed, "What else can I do? Second Brother, don't wear yourself out. It's exhausting."
Duke Yushan cleaned his ears, "You should tell that to yourself. With me chasing you, you have no choice but to be exhausted."
"Is the throne so important to you? You don't even acknowledge me as your elder brother?" Doran Yushan whispered, staring at Duke Yushan.
Duke Yushan ignored him and walked into the palace, "Let's go. If we're late, Father will be angered by the Zishan King. I don't want Father to die before I become Crown Prince, leaving the throne to you."
Doran Yushan sighed and entered the palace.
Bronson's face remained calm. The battle for the throne was usually bloody, but the Great Yu Empire was an exception. Undying Yushan had only five children. The third and fourth had died in the Inner Universe, leaving only the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Fifth Princess. The throne would go to one of them. The Fifth Princess had no interest, so the Crown Prince and Second Prince competed openly. It was so blatant that they even discussed it publicly, which was no longer surprising.
"Lu Yin pays respects to Royal Uncle."
Undying Yushan looked at a glowing purple plant and beckoned to Lu Yin, "Come, look at this. It's from a peculiar planet and doesn't have a name yet."
Lu Yin approached, examining the round purple plant, which emitted a strange aura that he couldn't gauge.
"Don't get too close. Right now, it's quite aggressive," Undying Yushan said with a smile.
Lu Yin was puzzled, "Aggressive?"
Undying Yushan nodded, "It can strangle a powerful Explorer."
Lu Yin's expression changed. He
quickly stepped back, surprised, "That powerful?"
Undying Yushan laughed, looking at the purple plant. He stepped closer and, to Lu Yin's amazement, reached out to touch it. He turned to Lu Yin, "Want to try? It's very pleasant to the touch."